It’s Friday, which means we’re a few days away from the Super Bowl and the NCAAW match-up between No. 1 South Carolina and No. 11 UConn. Fortunately, the scheduling wizards had the good sense not to broadcast them at the same time. Let’s get into Thursday’s games. Some were fairly predictable, a couple were a little too close for comfort, and one might be considered an upset.
No. 12 Notre Dame traveled to No. 15 Louisville for a game that many might have thought would be another Hannah Hidalgo show. Even though Hidalgo ended with 30 points and 7 steals, which set two freshman Notre Dame records, it was a losing effort, as the Cardinals took the game 73-66. Hidalgo, who missed her first four shots, only scored 8 points in the first half.
Louisville jumped out to an early 13-2 lead, then cooled off as Notre Dame began to make some shots, with Sonia Citron sinking the first 3-pointer for the Irish to end the half at 30-29 in favor of Louisville.
Hannah Hidalgo and her phenomenal second half
Hidalgo started to do Hidalgo things in the second half, turning up the jets and scoring 22 in the final two frames. Nyla Harris scored 19 points, a career-high, and Sydney Taylor scored 13. Merissah Russell, Taylor, and Jayda Curry hit the trifecta of 3s which opened up a 66-53 lead for Louisville at the halfway mark of the fourth quarter. Notre Dame made a concerted effort and got to 70-66 with a 3-pointer from Hidalgo and a jumper from Citron.
The two fouls put Louisville at the line, with Kiki Jefferson, who ended with 12 points, making both and Olivia Cochran one of two to cap a tough, back-and-forth win for the Cardinals. Louisville did struggle some at the line, shooting 14-23, but out-rebounded the Irish 42-36. A total of 38 turnovers didn’t help either team, with Louisville committing 21 and Notre Dame 17. Only Hidalgo was in double figures for the Irish, with Westbeld and Citron each scoring 9.
For Louisville, in addition to her 19 points, Harris grabbed 10 boards. There were times when Notre Dame looked disconnected and slow, and only went 2-18 from beyond the arc. Louisville, even when Notre Dame kept crawling back, managed to find the fire and some extra gas to keep going. This game was a good example of the fact that one player can’t win a game.
Virginia Tech takes care of NC State in ranked NCAAW action
No. 16 Virginia Tech rolled into Raleigh to face No. 3 NC State. Virginia Tech took the first frame 21-19 and never looked back. I appreciate the way Kenny Brooks leads his team. There are no histrionics, just a focused and determined coach who seems to have complete faith in his team and him. Elizabeth Kitley led the Hokies with 25 points and 13 boards, Matilda Ekh added 14 points, Cayla King 13, and Georgia Amoore 12 points and 10 assists.
The NC State scoring came from Madison Hayes with 20, Aziaha James with 17, and Saniya Rivers with twelve. Both James and Hayes contributed three 3s, which was the extent of the 3-point scoring for the Wolfpack. The Hokies won the rebound battle, particularly on the offensive side 15-5, and overall 33-26. They also outdid NC State on assists, 18-4.
An off-night for NC State? Maybe, although two of their three losses have been at the hands of the Hokies, with Kitley’s buzzer-beater giving them the win in their first meeting. Up next for NC State is a game at Pitt, and the Hokies host Boston College at home.
Iowa defeats Penn State in Big Ten play
No. 2 Iowa welcomed Penn State, and it was not the Caitlin Clark show. While Iowa scored 111 for the win, they also gave up 93 to PSU. However, it was Hannah Stuelke’s turn, scoring a career-high 47 points. Clark had 27 points and 15 assists but also committed 12 turnovers, a high for her career.
11 of Clark’s assists went to Stuelke. For Iowa, Kate Martin added 16 points with 16 rebounds. Ashley Owusu scored her season average of 18 with 9 boards, and both Leilani Kapinus and Makenna Marisa contributed 12 each, with Kapinus grabbing 10 boards.
A bump (of sorts) in the road for Iowa? Even though they took the game, maybe. Penn State shot 13-40 from three, while Iowa 7-24. Twelve of Iowa’s 17 turnovers were courtesy of Clark, yet Iowa ended with 24 assists and Penn State 17. There was a total of 51 fouls, with Iowa going 32-43 at the stripe and Penn State 22-28. Iowa barely out-rebounded Penn State, 49-43, although the offensive edge went to PSU 18-12, and Iowa on the defense 37-25.
Will Clark break the scoring record in the next game? It’s possible of course. Iowa travels to Nebraska on Sunday, so the Huskers may have something to say about that.
South Carolina and Ohio State win their respective conference games
No.1 South Carolina made easy work of Missouri, winning 83-45. MiLaysia Fulwiley came off the bench after Missouri jumped out to a 6-0, and the Gamecocks proceeded to go on a 37-12 run. Chloe Kitts, Ashlyn Walker, and Fulwiley combined for 31 points during the run. For Missouri, Grace Slaughter, Ashton Judd, and Abbey Schreacke each had 12 points, with Judd grabbing 10 boards.
No. 5 Ohio State beat the struggling Minnesota 71-47. Cotie McMahon scored 13 with 9 boards for OSU, with Celeste Taylor adding 14, Rebecca Mikulasikova scoring 11, and Jacy Sheldon 12, an off-night for her. Janay Sanders led Minnesota’s scoring with 16 points. It’s going to be tough for the Gophers to make it to the dance, especially without Mara Braun, but you never know. There is a fire to be lit somewhere. Hopefully, they can find it.
Indiana and Syracuse win close in NCAAW action
No. 14 Indiana gutted it out with Michigan State, winning 94-91. Michigan State was up by ten at the half, but Indiana took the second half, erasing the MSU lead and winning by three. Julia Ayrault led the Spartans with 25 points, Deedee Hagemann had 19 with 10 assists, and Moira Joiner had 14 points. Off the bench, Theryn Hallock had 13 and Tory Ozment 11.
For Indiana, all five starters were in double digits. Mackenzie Holmes scored 28, Sara Scalia 21, Yarden Garzon 20, Lexus Bargesser 10, and Chloe Moore-McNeil grabbed a triple-double, scoring 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists.
In another tale of two halves, No. 23 Syracuse bested Georgia Tech 62-59, with GT taking the first half and Syracuse the second. Both Kara Dunn for GT and Daisha Fair for Syracuse led their respective teams with 17 points each. The win for Syracuse snapped a five-game losing streak in their series with GT.
Ranked LSU and Gonzaga won on Thursday’s NCAAW action
No. 13 LSU handed Vanderbilt an 85-62 loss that saw LSU take the lead and never lose it. All five starters for LSU scored double digits. Flau’jae Johnson led the Tigers with 17, Angel Reese had 15 and 16 boards, both Aneesah Morrow and Hailey Van Lith added 13 each with Morrow grabbing 10 boards, and Mikaylah Williams rounded out the front line with 10 points.
For the Commodores, Iyana Moore scored 17 points, and Khamil Pierre 13 with 11 rebounds. LSU overwhelmed Vanderbilt on the boards, with 57 rebounds to 35. Vanderbilt went 6-32 from three, and LSU 2-13.
And finally, No. 19 Gonzaga waltzed past Pepperdine 83-46. Kaylynne Truing scored 19 points including five 3s, leading the Bulldogs to their 17th straight win, and 31st straight home win. Leading scorer Yvonne Ejim was not with the team, playing with the Canadian Nation Team in Hungary for the Olympic qualifiers. Kayleigh Truong scored 14, Eliza Hollingsworth 13, and Brynna Maxwell 11 for the Zags, who shot 10 of 24 from the arc. For the Waves, only Jane Nwaba hit double digits with 11. It was Pepperdine’s ninth consecutive loss.
Only five Top 25 games for Friday, and then the usual onslaught for the weekend.
And that, my friends, as they say, is that.’ — Martin Ruben
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